After 6 months of scheduling and rescheduling due to sicknesses, Rachel was finally able to go to Birmingham to get the hydrogen breath tests. The testing can show malabsorption of different types of sugars - lactose, sucrose and fructose. Because of Rachel's GI symptoms, the doctor thought maybe this was our issue. The tests have to be done on three separate days and involves Rachel eating a very blah dinner of plain potato and chicken breast and then fasting until the test the next morning and through the test. The techs give her a sugar liquid to drink and then over the course of 3 hours, they collect her breath every 30 minutes to see if her body is digesting the sugars correctly. Stephen was kind enough to take her down for the tests.
The results came back negative for any issues with digesting sugars which really surprised us. I was so bummed that nothing was found but the doctor is not giving up and we are proceeding with a colonoscopy and endoscopy with biopsies. I really do think that this will give us some answers. Those procedures will be scheduled soon. Here are some pictures of Rachel during the testing and at the GI docs office. Stephen said she was the star of the hospital running up and giving people hugs.
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| In a room between breath collections. |
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| Sitting with complete strangers and reading a magazine. :) |
Hope you guys can find some answers. So frustrating!
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